Cigarette case



- TE; 1'. EGGEBRECHT CIGARTTESE Filed be@ ,12; `1947 \9 I INVENTR Fgfax%gf AT ORNE Nov. 7,1950

Patentec ov. 7, 195` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE CASE l Edward T. Eggebrecht, Hammond, Ind;

-pplication December 12, 12547, Serial No. 791,415'- 15 Claims. (Cl. 20G-41.2)

This invention relates to a container and more particularly to a cigarette case. i

It is an object of this invention to produce a cigarette case which is simple and durable in construction, neat in appearance, and smooth and eicient in operation.

Another object is to produce an improved cigarette case in which the contained cigarettes are caused to assume an accessible position in response to relative movementof the case side walls and which completely incloses the cigarettes therein upon release of the externally applied forces effecting such relative movement.

A further object is to produce a cigarette case of the type described having means to prevent the cigarettes from being covered while the case is opened.

A still further object resides in means for automatically moving the case closure from and into the path of the cigarettes during opening and closing movements respectively of the case and for stopping the relative movement of the side walls when the case is in its opened and closed positions.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette case in the open position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the closed cigarette case illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective detailed view of the separate parts that comprise the cigarette case, the parts being shown substantially in the position they assume when assembled.

The cigarette case, as shown in the drawing, is formed with a casing ID and a carrier or tray I I which is vertically slidable in the casing. The casing is open at both the upper and lower ends and consists only of a front wall I2, which constitutes the front wall of the cigarette case, integral end Walls I3 and I4 of considerably less lengthwise dimension than that of the front wall, and still shorterr guide flanges I5 integral with the respective free edges of the end walls. The flanges I5 extend in spaced parallel relation with the front wall I2. The bottom edges of the flanges, end walls, and the front wall are flush so that the end walls do'not extend upwardly the full length of the front wall, and a recess is provided between the upper edges of the end walls and the flanges.

The carrier IIr is formed with a rear wall I6 and integral end walls I'I and I8. A shelf I9 which closes the lower end of the carrier supports cigarettes 20 which are arranged to extend beyond the upper end of the carrier, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The cigarettes are held vertically in a spacedapart, side by side relation in the carrier by a cross arm 2I which, having a series of cigarette receiving grooves 22 arranged in predetermined spaced relation, cooperates with the rear wall I6 for positioning purposes. The width of the carrier is selected slidably to iit between the guide anges I5 and the front Wall I2 of the casing, the rear wall of the carrier constituting a part of the rear wall of the cigarette case. Coil springs 23, hooked at one end over upright ribs 24 extending laterally from each of the carrier end walls Ii and I8 respectively and anchored at their other ends about the lower edges of each of the casing end walls I3 and I4 respectively, constantly urge the carrier II downward relative to the casing I. The over-all Width of the carrier with its attached ribs 24 is selected slidably to engage the end walls I3 and I4 respectively of the casing.

Pivoted on horizontally disposed pins 25 ex-Y tending'through apertures 26 in the upper rearward portion of the casing end Walls I3 and I4 is a closure 2l formed with a rear wall section 28, integral end wall sections 29 and 30, and an upper wall 3 I. The described closure wall sections are dimensionally selected to cooperate with the rear wall I6 of the carrier and the described cas'- ing walls to form a completely inclosed container when the closure is rocked about its pivot to its closed'position of adjustment.

Depending from each of the end walls 2e and 30 respectively is an integral extension 32 having an aperture which receives the pin 25 on which the closure in pivoted. A notch 33 in the forward edge portion of each extension'cooperates with a cam 34 fixed to the upper forward portion of each carrier end wall Il and I8 respectively positively to rock the closure in one direction or the other in response to upward and downward movement of the carrier. Below the notch 33, each extension is in the form of a rearwardly inclined rectangular leg 35, the forward edge o f which is in parallelism with and abuts the rear face of the side wall I2 when the closure is in its open position of adjustment, thereby to stop the closure when it is in its open position of adjustment. The rearward edge 36 of the leg also is substantially vertically disposed when the closure is rocked toward its open position and, during such movement, it is engaged by the rib 24 which, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, prevents the return movement of the closure until the carrier is lowered. When in the desired open position, continued upper movement of the carrier is stopped upon engagement of the rib 24 with a shoulder 3i in the extension.

In operation, the carrier is actuated upwardly relative to the casing by the application of pressure to the underside ofthe carrier; As the carrier is upwardly displaced, further tensioning the the coil springs 23, the closure is camined toward the open position by interaction between thev cams 3d and notches 33. As illustrated in Fig. 1,-A

the cam need not be in engagement with therespective notch throughout the entire opening movement. Initially, the 'cam -operating in the cam notch swings the cover to its fullopen position. After the cam leaves the notch, the rib 24 engages the surface '3c of leg.35 positively to hold the cover open. The cam re'engag'es therespctive notch during downward movement of the carrier, thereby to rock theV closure t'ow'ard its closed position of adjustment. Such downward movement is effected by the` tensi'oned coil spring and it is stopped when ih the closed position by interaction between the relatively horizontally disposed lower edge of the notch and th'e cam coincident with the abutment of the closure with the side wall I2.

It will be evident from the description that I have produced a new and improved cigarette case embodying-the features o causing the contained cigarettes to assume 'an accessible position merely in response to relative movement of one side wall withrespect to another. 'It will be manifest that suchrelative movement may be effected while grasping the case with one hand vto position the cigarettes for removal directly by the mouth, enabling full use of the other hand for other purposes, such, for example, as steering an automotive vehicle while driving. The variousfeatures include means for positively rocking the closure to and from the pathV of the cigarettes, .means for holding the closure inthe open position when the cigarette'case is opened, and means stopping 'the relative inovem'e'nt of parts when thecase is inits open 'or closed'position.

While description has been made specically to a rectangular case or container, the many features of this invention 'may also be embodied in casesjor containers of other symmetrical designs. .'Ihus, my invention lends 'itself readily to the production of cigarette 'cases in a'grea't variety of ornamental and attractive forms.

It will be further understood that numerous vchanges in the details of construction, arrangement and operation, as well as design, may be ef- Afected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as de'ned in the following claims.V

Whatis claimed isi M 1. A cigarette case comprising intertting relatively slidable carrier and housing parts each providing the respective opposite side walls Vof the 'cigarette case, a `closure 'pivotally7 mounted von vsaid housing for rocking movement between open 4 stituting the respective side walls of the cigarette case, a closure pivotally mounted on said housing for rocking movement between open and closed positions of adjustment, and cam means responsive to the relative movement of said carrier and housing parts for positively rocking the closure toward the open and closed positions of adjustment, said cam means functioning also stopping the relative movement in one direction of said carrier and housing parts when the closure is in its closed position of adjustment.

y3. A cigarette case comprising intertting relatively slidable carrier and housing parts each constituting the respective side walls of the cigarette case, a closure pivotally mounted on said housing for rocking movement between open and closed positions of adjustment, cams on one of the parts including the closure and carrier cooperating with slots on the other of said parts for positively rocking the closure toward the open and closed positions of adjustment responsive to movement of the carrier to raised andfretracted positions o'f adjustment, vsaid 'cam means also stopping the relative movement in one direction of said carrier and housing parts when the closure is in its retracted position of adjustment, and a stop for preventing relative movement in the opposite direction of said carrier and housing parts when the closure is nits open position of adjustment.

4. A cigarette case comprising interfitting rela-l tively slidable carrier and housing parts each confstituting the respective side walls yof the cigarette case, a closure pivotally mounted on said housing for rocking movement between open and closed positions of adjustment, cams on said carrier cooperating with notches in said closure forA slidable relative ofithe casing to raisedand lowered positions of adjustment wherein the `cigarettes arrangedjin th'e carrier are Yrespectively eX- posed and concealed, a closure pivoted from .the upper end portion of said carrier for rocking movement between open and closed positions of adjustment, and cooperating Vcam and slot means for positively rocking .the closure toward open and to the closed kpositions 'of adjustment Yresponsive to the actuation of the carrier to the raised and to the lowered'p'ositi'ons ot adjustment respectively. 6. A cigarette case comprising a casing havin a single side wall which constitutes one wall of the cigarette case, 'an .int'e'rtting carrier having a single side wall whichconstitutes the opposite side wall of the cigarette case, said carrier being slidable relative of the 'casing to raised and low ered positions of adjustment wherein thecigrarettes arrangedA in .the carrier are .respectively exposed and concealed,"aclosurepivoted from the upper end portion of .said carrier .tor rocking movement between the open and closed positions of adjustmenh'cooperating Ycam `and notch means 'for positively rocking the closure toward open and to closed positions of adjustment whenV the carrier is actuated to raisedand to lowered positions of adjustment respectively, and means releasably holding said closure in the Aopen position of adjustment.

7. A cigarette case comprising a casing having a single side wall which constitutes cne wall of the cigarette case, an intertting carrier having a single side wall which constitutes the opposite side wall of the cigarette case, said carrier being slidable relative of the casing to raised and lowered positions of adjustment wherein the cigarettes arranged in the carrier are respectively exposed and concealed, a closure pivoted from the upper end portion of said carrier ior rocking movement between open and closed positions of adjustment, cooperating cam and slot means for positively rocking the closure toward open and to closed positions of adjustment when the carrier is actuated to raised and to lowered positions of adjustment respectively, and spring means constantly urging said carrier toward the lowered position of adjustment.

8. A cigarette case as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cooperating cam and slot operate also to stop the relative movement of the carrier in one direction when in its lowered position of adjustment.

9. A cigarette case as claimed in claim 6 in which said last means also includes means for stopping upward relative movement oi the carrier beyond the raised position oi adjustment.

10. A cigarette case as claimed in claim 9 in which the means for holding the closure in the open position and stopping the upward relative movement of the carrier includes a vertically disposed rib on the carrier adapted slidably to be received in a groove in the closure during opening movement, and a shoulder at the end of said groove which is engaged by said rib to limit upward movement of the carrier.

1l. A cigarette case comprising a casing having a single side wall constituting one wall of the cigarette case, an interlitting tray having a single side wall constituting a part of the other side wall of the cigarette case, said tray being relatively slidable longitudinally of the casing toward raised and lowered positions of adjustment whereby the cigarettes arranged in the tray are respectively made available and hidden, a closure pivotally mounted on the casing for rocking movement between open and closed positions, said closure constituting the remainder of the other side wall when in the closed position, cams on said tray cooperating with notches in said closure for positively actuating said closure toward the open position and to the closed position during relative longitudinal movement of said tray and casing, spring means constantly urging the tray toward its lowered position of adjustment, said tray being stopped at its lowered position of adjustment by said cooperating cams and notches, and an upright lateral extension on said tray engageable with said closure for holding the closure in its open position and stopping relative movement of the tray beyond its raised position.

12. A cigarette case as claimed in claim 11 wherein the casing is constituted with channelshaped end walls between which the tray is slidably arranged.

13. A cigarette case as claimed in claim 11 in which the tray is provided with a cross bar in spaced parallel relation with the side wall, said cross bar having a multiplicity of cigarette receiving grooves in side by side relation.

14. A cigarette case as claimed in claim 11 in which the tray is provided with a cross bar having a multiplicity of cigarette receiving grooves in spaced parallel relation with the side wall for mounting cigarettes therebetween in upright position.

15. A cigarette case comprising a casing having a single side wall which constitutes one wall of the cigarette case, an intertting carrier having a single side wall which constitutes the opposite side wall of the cigarette case, said carrier being slidable relative of the casing to raised and lowered positions of adjustment wherein the cigarettes arranged in the carrier are respectively eX- posed and concealed, a closure pivoted from the upper end portion of said carrier for rocking movement between the open and closed positions of adjustment, cooperating cam and notch means for positively rocking the closure toward open and to closed positions of adjustment when the carrier is actuated to raised and to lowered positions of adjustment respectively, a vertically disposed rib on the closure adapted slidably to be received in a groove in the closure during opening movement, and a shoulder dening the end of the groove which becomes engaged by the rib to limit opening movement of the closure.

EDWARD T. EGGEBRECHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Mar. 24, 1931 

